Bartolome and San Salvador Islands
Bartolome, the island of volcanoes, and Santiago, our adopted island, delighted us today with their many unique species and wonderful landscapes.
The day started with an excursion to the top of Bartolome, for this wonderful view of several volcanoes and lava flows. We could contemplate a few of the other Galápagos islands, realizing how far we have gone this week, visiting the south-eastern most islands to the western most islands of the Galápagos.
The afternoon found us in Santiago, or San Salvador or James. We felt proud visiting an island that the Polaris and its guests have adopted since 1997. This island has been restored, with no more feral pigs, few goats and many baby tortoises that now live free and happy, without introduced competitors or predators.
Our guests had many sightings of green sea turtles while snorkeling, and even a few sharks and sea lions. Those who walked in the afternoon got to the famous grottos where fur seals live and play. Marine iguanas, shore birds and pelicans completed the amazing setting along this island’s trails. No one wanted to come back to the Polaris; no one wants to leave the islands. But the islands will always be in our guest’s hearts.
Bartolome, the island of volcanoes, and Santiago, our adopted island, delighted us today with their many unique species and wonderful landscapes.
The day started with an excursion to the top of Bartolome, for this wonderful view of several volcanoes and lava flows. We could contemplate a few of the other Galápagos islands, realizing how far we have gone this week, visiting the south-eastern most islands to the western most islands of the Galápagos.
The afternoon found us in Santiago, or San Salvador or James. We felt proud visiting an island that the Polaris and its guests have adopted since 1997. This island has been restored, with no more feral pigs, few goats and many baby tortoises that now live free and happy, without introduced competitors or predators.
Our guests had many sightings of green sea turtles while snorkeling, and even a few sharks and sea lions. Those who walked in the afternoon got to the famous grottos where fur seals live and play. Marine iguanas, shore birds and pelicans completed the amazing setting along this island’s trails. No one wanted to come back to the Polaris; no one wants to leave the islands. But the islands will always be in our guest’s hearts.
